Patrick Kane had a goal and an assist while Marcus Kruger, Sami Lepisto and
Viktor Stalberg also scored for the Blackhawks, who have won their past two
following a nine-game losing streak.

Chicago went 2-6-1 in its season-high nine-game road trip.

"I thought we got better as the game went on there," said Chicago head coach
Joel Quenneville. "We had a rough start to the game, a very ordinary start.
But, overall our team game was very efficient."

Derick Brassard scored the lone goal for the Blue Jackets, who came into the
game having won four of their past six.

Steve Mason made the start for Columbus, but he was pulled in the second
period after allowing four goals on 20 shots. After getting pulled, he was
visibly upset as he was seen yelling at head coach Todd Richards.

"It's never a good thing," said Mason about getting pulled. "Under the
circumstances, though, we'll see about it tomorrow."

The first goal of the game went to Columbus as an errant clear was picked up
at the right point by Brassard, who skated into the slot and blew a slap shot
past Crawford 5:13 in.

Toews, though, tied the game on his own when he skated the puck from his own
end to the Columbus zone down the left wing, got around a defender and cut to
the front before stuffing it in at the 12:27 mark.

Chicago took a 2-1 lead with 3:12 to play in the first thanks to a miscue from
Mason. He attempted to play the puck behind his own net, but it hopped over
his stick and went to Bryan Bickell, who passed it over to the right, where
Stalberg shot it home.

Sharp made it a 3-1 game at the 13:39 mark of the second when a cross-ice pass
by Kane from the right boards went to the left and Sharp one-timed it home for
his 24th of the season.

Less than two minutes later, it was a 4-1 contest as Kane used the defender
for a screen and snapped a shot from the slot past Mason, who was pulled after
the goal.

"It was the goal and it was leading up to that point," said Richards about
pulling Mason. "His game wasn't where it should be the past three games and we
have to play again tomorrow, so all of those thoughts led into the decision."

When asked if Mason will start Sunday's road game in New York against the
Rangers Richards said, "I haven't spoken to him yet but that's the plan right
now."

Allen York finished the game in net for Columbus and gave up goals to Kruger
and Lepisto less than a minute apart early in the third period. He stopped six
of the eight shots he faced.

Game Notes

Stalberg has eight goals in five games against Columbus this season...Crawford
is 4-0-0 against Columbus this season...Columbus left winger Rick Nash, who is
a heavy subject of trade rumors, went minus-two with three shots in the game.
He has 18 goals and 21 assists in 57 contests this season...Chicago, which has
won all five games with Columbus this season, hosts St. Louis on Sunday.